Pakistan cancels Senate by-election over Murad Saeed seat dispute

Pakistan's Election Commission has cancelled a Senate by-election in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, ruling that the seat held by jailed PTI leader Murad Saeed was never legally vacant because he had not taken the oath of office.

The decision followed a petition from KP lawmaker Jalal Khan challenging the by-election scheduled for April 23.

Why did Pakistan's Election Commission cancel the Senate by-election?

The Election Commission ruled that Murad Saeed never acquired constitutional membership of the Senate because he had not taken the prescribed oath after being declared elected.

Since he never formally held the seat, the commission said no legal vacancy existed when he was later disqualified, so no by-election could be held to fill it.

What is the background to the Murad Saeed Senate seat dispute?

The dispute stems from Senate elections held in July 2025, when Saeed was declared elected to a general seat representing Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, according to the commission's order. He was later disqualified on March 26 after an anti-terrorism court sentenced him to 10 years in prison on March 7 over his alleged involvement in the May 9, 2023 attack on the Pakistan military's headquarters, known as GHQ.

The Election Commission subsequently announced the April 23 by-election to fill the seat.

What did Jalal Khan argue in his petition?

During the hearing, Jalal Khan's lawyer argued that a by-election could only be held if a legally recognised casual vacancy existed. Since Saeed had neither taken the oath nor assumed his Senate seat, the lawyer said, he had never acquired the constitutional status of a member.

How did the Election Commission justify cancelling the vacancy?

The Election Commission agreed with Jalal Khan's argument, ruling that a candidate who has been declared elected but has not taken the prescribed oath does not acquire constitutional membership or occupy the parliamentary seat. It also held that constitutional provisions relating to resignation, disqualification and vacation of a seat apply only after a person has formally acquired membership.

On that basis, the commission concluded that no vacancy had arisen and cancelled the by-election.

Who is Murad Saeed?

Murad Saeed is a senior PTI leader who entered politics after rising through student activism. He founded the Insaf Student Federation, a youth organization associated with PTI, and became known for mobilizing young supporters around political reform.

He was elected to Pakistan's National Assembly in 2013 and again in 2018 before serving as a federal minister during former Prime Minister Imran Khan's government. Saeed has largely remained out of public view since unrest erupted across Pakistan following Khan's arrest on May 9, 2023, and he is wanted in connection with cases arising from the protests.